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Event Detail

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Race, Gender, and the Dynamics of Social Hierarchy Reversal

Robert Livingston, Assistant Professor of Management &
Organizations, Northwestern University

This research examines the challenges of upward mobility for
minorities in mainstream organizations. When individuals from
traditionally low-status groups (e.g., Blacks, women) occupy
high-status roles (e.g., leaders) or exhibit high-status behaviors
(e.g., arrogance), this creates tension and discomfort due to the
subversion of established/expected hierarchical arrangements. Using
various methodologies, this session will demonstrate that
“disarming mechanisms”— traits, attitudes or behaviors that signal
warmth, humility, or deference—can lead to greater power and
success among minorities by making them appear less threatening and
adversarial to dominant groups. Data from several experiments,
using targets as diverse as Fortune 500 CEOs, US Presidents, and
NFL Football players, converge in demonstrating that disarming
mechanisms benefit Black males, but can actually hinder White
males. We will also discuss the ways in which race interacts with
gender to affect leader outcomes.